The Pen and Inkpot

Neil Jordan has created a fascinating world within the novel Carnivalesque. This is the most unique story I have read and I promise you that you will never read another book like it. I picked out this novel at the library because it has such an interesting concept, but it ended up as not quite what I had expected.  To Andy and his parents, it just looks like another colourful carnival, with its flashing lights and circus tents. But when Andy ventures into the Hall of Mirrors, something unexpected happens. In a confusion of reflections, one of Andy's reflections walks out of the Hall of Mirrors to join his parents and go back home, leaving the real Andy trapped in the mirror himself. Just like that, he is transported to the amazing world of carnival life where time and gravity don't exist. Meanwhile, Andy's parents struggle with the emotionless shell of their son that replaced him. When mysterious things start to happen in Andy's coastal, Irish town, he starts t

This is actually the first biography that I have read and I really enjoyed it. Written by young education activist, Malala about life as a Pushtun living in a village in Pakistan. Although it wasn't written in a gripping style, the events told the story without fancy descriptions. What struck me most about this novel is how true it is. I now have a new understanding of how lucky I am to have peace in my country and freedom to get education.   Malala grew up in the Swat Valley in Pakistan while the Taliban roamed the streets. Her school was shut down and women forced to stay inside. Her father were some of the few people who stood up for their religion and education rights. Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban on her way home from school. In this novel, Malala tells the story of her country and the life she endured living in Pakistan.  I felt foolish not having known about the fighting in Pakistan. I knew that there was fighting, but I hadn't realised that

I have been told that this novel is just a copy of Divergent and other dystopian novels but I found it not so similar. The vague idea is the same, but once you actually read the novel, you will find it is not like Divergent at all. Red Queen was interesting and entertaining yet predictable and frustrating at times. Mare Barrow has been cursed with red blood and lives in a town of fellow Reds. She steals to provide for her family while her sister basks in success at an apprenticeship. Those with silver blood rule over the reds with their special powers, sending them to fight the war and watch displays of Silver strength. Mare knows that she has only made things worse for her family, but when she meets a stranger on the streets, suddenly her world gets flipped around. Being a royal is not easy though, and power is a game in which no one can be trusted.  (May contain vague spoilers) The storyline is entertaining and the idea is well mapped out. The plot goes very deep and

Merry Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year, but also the most busy time of the year. There is a lot to do in December and buying Christmas presents is one of them. In this post, hopefully I can make Christmas shopping a little quicker and easier for you with a few ideas of Christmas presents you can buy online or at the shops and suit even the fussiest family members and friends. A diary or calendar Many people use a paper diary and paper calendar to keep track during the year (myself included) and soon we will be needing a new one! A nice looking diary or quirky calendar is something you know that they will use and enjoy all through the coming year. A onesie No matter if you have one already or not, everyone can use a new onesie. They come in all styles and suit all personalities. From fluffy bunnies to rainbow unicorns, you can find some pretty cool onesies online and they are guaranteed to get a lot of use. A hamper Can't decide on wh

I must admit that I did not have high expectations for this book since I have read many books like it in the past, but found the ideas in it quite original. There were some aspects that were cliche and the romance was a little bit pathetic. On the other hand, the characters and new society that have been created make an entertaining read. In a way, this book was halfway between Divergent and Harry Potter. The story begins with a girl who never felt like she fit in. Her mum was locked in a mental asylum for trying to kill her when she was six. She is left with her aunt and brother and could never seem to keep up in school. One day, when a mysterious boy turned up at her school, perhaps she would finally find out whether her mother was right when she had called her a monster. I feared that this trilogy would come too close to its dystopian relatives Divergent and the  Hunger Games but it turns out it was more similar to the Hobbit. I don't want to spoil the story too

I don't know about you but whether I'm on school holidays or I have a free weekend, nothing pains me more than wasting precious free time thinking of what to do. So here is a list of things you might want to do if you're bored by yourself on a rainy day.   Have a bath There is nothing more relaxing than a hot bath full of bubbles especially on a cold winter's day. Maybe try adding a bath bomb or salts or bubble bath to spice up your bath. Also remember to put on some comfy clothes to stay all warm and cosy for the rest of the day.  Watch a Movie or Stream a TV series Movies are also great ways to pass time and relax. Nowadays, with Netflix and Stan and all that stuff, it is so easy to get addicted to a TV series and binge for the entire day which is exactly what you should do if you have some serious time to kill! Phone a Friend We all have at least one friend who we haven't seen in ages, but just don't have the time to meet up. How about

Kiersten White rewrote the classic novel "Frankenstein" with the same events and the same characters and called it "The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein". She didn't just rewrite it though. She squashed and stretched and tied the original storyline into knots, adding depth and mystery. Writing from the point of view of Victor Frankenstein's wife gave the novel a fresh, feminine take on the male centred original. As a spin off of a classic, I was impressed by the ways Kiersten White spun the same story into a gripping, modern horror novel for young adults. Elizabeth Lavenza has been brought up to think that she is worthless. Battered and bruised, she arrives at the house of Victor Frankenstein where she gets nice clothes, good food and a warm bed. Victor has everything Elizabeth never had. A family, a house, an education. All he is missing is a friend. Elizabeth attaches herself to Victor in order to keep her place in the family and their frien

The end has come and I want to read the whole thing again. The happy end that I was waiting for left my mind inventing the rest of the assumably happy lives of Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom. The style of this book was about the same as the others with mystery after mystery unfolding. Betrayal, discovery and heartbreak are throughout the book and shocking twists make the plot impossible to guess. It is a grand final story of the peculiar children but if you want to read this, first read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Hollow City because they play a remarkable role in the build up of the story. (Also, this summary may contain spoilers for those who haven't read the first two books and wish not to know the beginning of Library of Souls) The story begins with Jacob as everything changes with a sound. Jacob goes from the most useless peculiar to the most important and needed peculiar. He is trusted with the lives of his friends when they are captured. But in

Have you ever had that victorious feeling of having enough spare time to watch a movie but then not knowing which one to watch? Or have you invited friends over for a chilled movie night but couldn't find that perfect movie? Then this is the post for you. I have compiled a list of a few "feel good films" suitable for watching with friends (or without) so that you can feel good at the end of your next movie! The Greatest Showman A (relatively) new release movie which has some people singing along and other people covering their ears. "The Greatest Showman" is a musical that follows the (somewhat true) story of P.T Barnum who founded the first Circus. This movie highlights important issues about acceptance, racism and vanity and although admittedly it is cliche and recycles a typical romantic storyline, it is the perfect 'feel good movie' for any lovers of musicals.  The Holiday This movie is a bit of a 'chic filck', romantic c

This is the second book I have received from the company Once Upon a Book Club and I was a little hesitant to read it. The novel is a romance war novel which seems a little out of place for a young adult novel but I found it quite enjoyable. It was the heartwarming story of one woman's journey towards independence, friendship and first love. An inspirational and insightful novel about life away from the battle fields of World War II crossed with the point of view of a girl pining for a man she can't have. "In Another Time" made for an interesting combo. It is 1942 and Maise Mcall is doing her part for the war as a lumber jill for the Women's Timber Corps. Out in the Scottish highlands, she has gotten independence, friends, a few more muscles and some nasty blisters. Felling trees is hard work compared to her normal life back home, but Maisie won't turn back. A small pleasure that the ladies at the WTC are provided is the local dances. Dancing with her

This is a popular YA novel that I thought looked sweet and decided to read. I'm not usually into romance novels but this one was ok. It was unique and quirky and explored much deeper topics than just two teens falling in love. Eleanor is the strange one. New in town, wearing funky clothes with red, frizzy hair. She couldn't stick out more if she tried. Park is quiet and reserved. Black t-shirt and headphones on, hoping no one sits in the seat next to him on the bus. These two very different individuals meet and slowy fall for each other. Late night chats and a love for comic books bring this couple dangerously close. If they take another step they could just...                                                                              fall. This novel did lots of things well. The characters had their own voice and were developed in a way that let the reader get to know them bit by bit throughout the book. The reader often knew both sides of the story when

I always think of poetry as a very broad term and the writer can seem to get away with writing whatever they like in whatever structure they like these days. The only problem with that is now we don't know how to start writing a poem when there are so many styles to write in. In this post I will give you a few tips on how to write poetry that is unique and sounds good when spoken aloud.  Iambic Pentameter If you have read any of Shakespeare's works, you may have picked up his use of iambic pentameter. In simple terms, iambic pentameter is stressing certain syllables in a line of poetry. There are five sets of two syllables and in each set of two syllables there is usually one strong and one weak beat.  For example: I soar / a- cross / the sky / a- bove In this example, the bold syllable is stressed more and throughout the line, the stressed syllable alternates with a weaker syllable. You don't have to follow iambic pentameter exactly (I don't), I jus